My Moving Day Experience with Vector

These days, we (or I, at any rate) rely on customer reviews—even more than word of mouth—when choosing a moving company. The days of taking a business’s word at face value are over. We want social proof from verified customers.

But there’s a catch.

Many customer reviews can be lazy or vague. “It was terrible!” Others sound too good to be true. “Best movers ever!” And sometimes, no matter how hard we look, we cannot find the answer to that one question that would influence our choice to hire (or not).

So, I considered how to deliver an honest and helpful account of my moving day experience with Vector. I could tell a linear story or break down my move into its parts. Both would be boring—we all know what residential moving involves.

Instead, I settled on a good old Q&A…with myself. I wanted to answer questions I had not thought to ask when reading about Vector Moving on Yelp!.

I hope this Q&A from a real Vector Moving customer helps you make the right decision.

But first…

What Was My Biggest Moving Day Surprise?

Timing.

Until now, I had only ever moved on my own (okay, with the help of a few friends) and had no idea how fast professional movers could load a truck. Fast is, actually, an understatement.

Over the previous year, it took twelve trips and dozens of hours to fill my 10×10 third-floor storage unit. I figured I had at least two hours to finish packing at my apartment while the movers dealt with that. Wrong.

The Vector Moving team emptied the storage unit—carefully and without incident—in under 45 minutes. The tides had turned. Now we were racing to keep up with them!

Insight: Finish packing all your belongings before moving day.

Protip: Ask your Vector Moving coordinator how long each part of the move will take and trust his answer.

Did Anything Funny Happen During My Move?

About halfway through the move, Romy, the team leader, said to me: 

“You are the only customer I’ve ever worked with who is excited and happy about moving!”

His words cut through the stress and put a smile on my face. I laughed a little. Was I happy? Whether or not I was, I had resolved to make the best of the day.

It was a kind gesture that made the rest of the move all the more enjoyable.

Was The Service Worth the Price?

I thought so.

I could never have managed the move on my own, and it wasn’t like moving into a studio apartment where a friend or two would be enough.

Vector Moving supplied experienced workers, reliable trucks, job coordination, commercial insurance, a status-tracking app, and packing materials. There are also all the overhead costs to consider. 

Everyone is different, of course, but when I broke down the approximately eight-hour move along those lines, I felt I had received excellent value for the price I paid.

(The price was, I should note, also the one they quoted me initially—making good on their promise of guaranteed quotes).

How Did I Feel On Moving Day?

At first, I was anxious. Later, I felt like the boss. 

Moving is stressful. There’s no way around it. A million things can go wrong. Heck, even one thing can go wrong.

During my move with Vector, however, nothing went wrong. What improved my mood the most was (and I’m being serious) that everyone on the Vector team assured me that they were here to make my move as smooth as possible.

And they did.

What Else Helped Me Manage Moving-Day Stress?

Getting involved. 

I don’t mean you should start lifting boxes or barking orders. But don’t be passive. 

Tell the team leader what you expect. Indicate clearly where particular items should go in the new location. Ask the movers what they would like for lunch. 

This last item may seem strange, but it can help you feel like you are part of the team and in control, rather than an observer. 

(I picked up a couple of Jersey Mike’s Classic Italian subs and they were a hit.)

Moving Day With Vector, In Retrospect

Fall of 2022 was the first and only time I hired a moving company, so I may not be high on the list of expert moving customers. But I will tell you this:

I tried hard to come up with a realistic scenario where this particular move could have gone better. I couldn’t.

Part of the reason was that my wife and I did our best to pack our belongings in neat, well-labeled boxes. We also packed an essentials bag to help us get through the day. 

Kudos to us.

But it was Vector Moving that delivered on all the promises they made on their website and when I spoke to them on the phone. There may be other New Jersey moving companies who do the same, but if I ever move again, I will call Vector first.